Power-operated wrench



Dec. 21,' 1948. A. E. CHURCH POWER OPERATED WRENCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. "16, 1947 INVENTOR A. E. CHURCH ATTORNEY POWER OPERATED WRENCH Fil'ed Dec. 16, 1947 :s sheets-sheet 2 AINVENTOR A. E. CHURCH ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1948. A. E. CHURCH POWER OPERATED WRENCH Filed lien. 16, 1947 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

FIG.5

INVENTOR.

. B K I ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 21 1948 .Pow R-orERATEo WRENCH Albert E. Church, New Britain,-Conn., assignor to Union Manufacturing Company, New Britain,

C'onn.,-a corporation of Connecticut Application-December 16, l9i7 $erial llo 792,107

Tillaims. (Cl."172-36) '1 This invention relates to power operated wrenches and particularly to a wrench of type fdesignedto be dr1ving1y connected toja chuck and operated bya motor embodied in the device and forming a part thereof so", that Ithe motor may be used to open orclose the chuck whenever required.

.A primary object of theinvention i-sto provide a housing. fora power actuated shaft mounted closely adjacent a chuck and adapted for detachable attachment to. the chu'ck'so that theoperating mechanism for a, chuck jaw maybe opened or closed by' power whenever necessary by rotation of the motor in. opposite directions.

Aieature of the invention that is important is that the power wrench may be. mounted upon a machine tool or other machinewith itsgchuck engaging and operating shaft positionedafor engagement with the chuck jaw operating screws so that the driven member of the power Wrench can be conveniently moved to detachably connect withmeans for actuating thechuck jaw operatingscrews.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a single hand lever movable to operate themotor in opposite directions, andvto, actuate the ;.driven member into andout of. engagement withthe chuck jaw operating means.

Another feature of advantage is that planetary differential speed reducing gearing. isxprovided between the armature shaft of the motor and the drivenmember of the power wrench which is connectedto the chuckjaw operating means.

With the above and other objectsiin view, the invention may include'the features of construction and operation set. forth in the following specification and illustratedv in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part ofthis specification I have shown the invention embodied in a wrench adapted for attachment to a machine tool of the horizontal type but it will be understoodthat the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this'specification being reliedupon for that purpose. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a power wrench made in accordance with" the presentinvention; Fig.2 is a side'elevatioriofthe wrench shown in the preceding figure;

Fig.3 is 'a View similartoFig. 2 on anenlarged scale and shown partly in sectionf Fig. 4 is an end view of a modified f rnmfith re h:

Fig. l3 is a side elevation partly in sectionof the form the invention shown in Fig.4, and

Figs. 6 'andl aredetails of theform' oiinvention shown inlFigs'l, 2fand'v3.

In the above mentio'ned drawings, there have een shown several .emb'odimentsof the inventiQn Which are, ,now deemed preferable,,.but it s to be understood that changes and modifications may belmade within. thescope of the appended claims ,withoutde'partingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and-inits broadest aspect, the invention may comprise: first, a motor housing; second, afldifferential afshaft splined to said gear reduction. mechanism and axially, extendable therefrom, thisshafthavspeed reduction gear therein; third,

ing. its outer end shaped for ,driving engagement Qwitha chuck. operating member; 'fourth, a pivotally ;mounted lever for manually,controlli ng movements of {said shaft or; housing, .and ,nfth,

switchcontrolling:mean-s on said leverfor rotati'ng the motor in either direction.

Referring moreindetail to Figures 1,2 and} of the, drawing, it-,will be seenthatthechuck op r ting mechanism or power, wrench: mayhhave one of uitsprincipal irame members lugfixed in position adjacent the chuck on a machine. tool prett er, member I2 with which the power wrench is .to be used;v Mounted on, this wframemembenlfl is a motor 14; preferably .bolted theretoatone endiby means of a; flange l5 formi'n'g/ an end fimgeyof the motor TM. The armature shaft l6 atone end .is .provided with a pinion [8 which mesheswith spaced planetary gears. 20; .Meshins. withjitheouter portions of these planetary gears :20 area'pair of adjacent internal gears--22 andi24. i One of these internal gears 22 is secured inffixedjpos'itionlto the motor end fiange-and the othengearlltothe fiange.25 on the inner end of;a sleeve.26-; lTheinternalgears 22- and'M-have difierent tooth numbers, one gear having one or several teethmore o'r less-thanthe other. Rotationjther'efore of the motor M andits-pini'on 18 will revolve the planetary gears 20 within the internal gears 22 and 24 and,'due to thedifference in'tooth numbers'in these internal gears gear will be slowly rotated relative to its companion gear 22-about the sails of rotation ofthe pinion f8, Tomou'nt the sleeve 26 for rotation'within the housing |0, anti-friction bearings ZSareprcvided adjacent eachend, the outer races 'of which are housed within the frame member 10.

' Withi'n'the sleeve wand splinedthereto tor axial movement is a shaft an the outer end of which is non-circular as shown for drivin attachment to a chuck operating screw (not shown). Preferably two splines or keys 32 are provided secured in suitable grooves within the shaft by suitable screws. To advance and retract the shaft 36 into and out of its operative position a cross pin 34 is provided extending through the shaft 30 and through an elongated slot formed in the sleeve 26. Slidable on the sleeve 26 and also having the cross pin 34 extending therethrough is an annularly grooved collar 36. Slidable movements of the collar 36 will therefore extend or retract the shaft 36 relative to the sleeve 26.

Instead of the forward end of member 30 being formed with a square as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, this end may be formed with longitudinally extending splines or in the form of a pinion 3| as shown in Fig. 7.

To actuate the collar 36 a yoke member 38 is pivotally mounted within the frame member in for oscillation by a forwardly extending horizontal transverse shaft 46. The yoke member 38 has its arms engaging within the groove in collar 36. For this purpose studs in the ends of arms of yoke 38 on which are mounted small shoes 31.

A hand lever 42 attached to the transverse shaft 40 permits manual movements of the collar 36 and shaft 30 to be accomplished by movement of the lever 42 which is conveniently located in front of the frame member H! or at a position convenient for access by the operator.

Referring to Fig. l the construction of the hand lever 42 will be understood. Oscillatory movements of the hand lever 42 with the shaft 46 and about the axis of shaft 40 also oscillates a housing 44 attached to the shaft 4|]. Within the housing 44 is a pivotal connection 46 for the lever 42 permitting limited oscillatory movement of the lever about an axis at right angles to the axis of shaft 40. Movement of lever 42 relative to its housing 44 about the axis of this connection 46 closes one or the other of a pair of switches 48 and 56. To aid in guiding the lever 42 in its movements an H shaped opening 43 may be provided in a supporting bracket mounted on the body member I0 and surrounding an intermediate part of the lever 42. This bracket opening 43 is shown in Fig. 6 and serves to limit movements of the lever 42 so that the motor l4 may be rotated only when the lever 42 and member 30 are in fully operative positions. With one of the switches 48 Or 56 closed the circuits to the motor l4 will rotate the motor in one direction. Rotation in the opposite direction will take place when the other switch is closed. Leads are provided in cable 52 for the wiring connections to the switches 48 and and another cable 54 is provided providing leads to the casing of motor I4. As the wiring to the motor [4 and the switches 48 and 5D is or may be conventional, further description is not thought to be necessary.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the body member is laterally movable instead of having a shaft extensible axially from the head. To permit this lateral movement of head or casing 66 guideways 62 are provided within a fixed member 64 forming a part of the machine with which the head 66 is to be used. To actuate the head or casing to operative and inoperative positions linkage is provided connected to a reach arm 66 extended to a position convenient for operation by means of a lever similar to lever 42 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. An arm 68 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 10 outstanding from fixed member 64 and has its outer end attached to the reach arm 66. Also attached to shaft III is a. short lever 12 so that movement of the reach arm 66 oscillates this lever. At the outer end of lever 12 is a connecting rod 14 the opposite end of the connecting rod being attached to a plate 16 secured to the head 60.

Mounted on the head 60 is a motor 18, the armature shaft of which has two pinions 8D thereon each engaging a member of a compound planetary differential gear 82. The gear teeth on the planetary gear 82, which are of unequal number, mesh with two internal gears 84 and 86. Gear 86 is secured to an end wall of the motor flange 88 and gear 86 is secured to a driving member 96 for the chuck operating member 92. Member 90 is mounted for rotation on antifriction bearings 94. From the above description it will be seen that rotation of the motor 18 in either direction will rotate at a greatly reduced speed the driving member 92. Also by operation of the rod 66 the member 92 may be moved laterally into or out of a chuck operating member (not shown).

In Fig. 5 the driving member 92 is in the form of a shaft fitting within the shaft extension or sleeve portion of member 90 so as to be readily removed for substitution of other types of driving members. At the outer end of the member 92 are cut gear teeth adapted for meshing with a gear on the chuck for operatin its laws. To aid in supporting the member 92 with its gear in meshing relation a supporting bracket 94 may be attached to the head 60 and having an opening aligned with and rotatably engaging the outer end of the member 92.

I claim:

1. A power wrench comprising in combination, a motor, a speed reduction unit connected thereto, a shaft rotated by said motor through said unit, a spline connection between said unit and shaft permitting axial movement of said shaft, a manually operated lever for moving said shaft axially, and switches on said lever for opening and closing circuits for rotating said motor in opposite directions, said switches being opened and closed by movement of said lever at right angles to the direction of movement thereof to axially move said shaft.

2. A power wrench comprising in combination, a motor, a speed reduction unit connected thereto, a shaft rotated by said motor through said unit, a spline connection between said unit and shaft permitting axial movement of said shaft, a manually operated lever for moving said shaft axially, means to guide the movements of said lever, and switches on said lever for opening and closing circuits for rotating said motor in opposite directions, said switches being opened and closed by movement of said lever at right angles to the direction of movement thereof to axially move said shaft.

3. A power wrench comprising in combination, a motor, a speed reduction unit connected thereto, a shaft rotated by said motor, a spline connection between said shaft and unit permitting axial movement of said shaft, and a hand lever movable about one axis to move said shaft, said lever being movable about another axis to open and close circuit switches for said motor.

4. A power wrench comprising in combination, a motor, a speed reduction unit connected thereto, a shaft rotated by said motor, a spline connection between said shaft and unit permitting areas being movable about another axis to open and close circuit switches for said motor, and means to limit movements of said lever about said axes,

5. A power wrench for opening and closing work engaging chucks for machine tools com; prising a casing mounted in position on said machine, a motor mounted thereon, a shaft slowly rotated by said motor, means to axially advance and retract said shaft relative to said casing, a manually operated lever for controlling axial movements of said shaft, and circuit switches for said motor on said lever, said switches being opened and closed respectively by movement of the lever in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement for moving said shaft.

6. A power wrench for work engaging chucks comprising, a motor, an extensible shaft slowly rotated thereby in opposite directions, a hand lever for extending and retracting said shaft, 9, housing for said hand lever, circuit switches for said motor within said housing, a pivotal mounting for said lever within said housing, whereby said lever may be oscillated in a plane at right angles to swinging movements of said housing, and whereby movement of said housing and lever in one plane will extend or retract said shaft, and movement of said lever relative to said housing about another axis will open and close said switches.

7. A power wrench for work engaging chucks comprising a casing mounted in position on a machine having a chuck, a motor mounted on said casing, a shaft slowly rotated by said motor, means to laterally move said casing and motor, a chuck engaging means on said shaft movable into and out of chuck engagement by lateral movements of said casing, a manually operated lever for controlling lateral movements of said casing, and means on said lever for starting and stopping rotation of said motor in either direction.

ALBERT E. CHURCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

